Memories

It had been about 25 years since my niece had been back in the US.

She was born here and her birth certificate will always say she's American,

which I believe she is very proud of.

There is no doubt she is very much French though.

Of course she is, they moved back to France when she was 4.

My sister, though fluent in 3 languages spoke

only French at home.

My niece speaks perfect English but with a cute French accent.

Speaks thoughtfully with  purpose,  unlike me that just

spouts off whatever happens to come through my head. I also speak fast, 

 though  I am more aware of

how fast I can talk so I (after all these years) have slowed it down.

Now don’t get me riled up 'cause I’ll give you an earful: )

yes I can talk.

(George rolling his eyes)

or what he might say to someone:

Did she take a breath? or did you get a word in?…..haha

anyways, enough about my foibles.

We only spend a couple of hours together in NYC. Vanessa was off to visit

with a friend in Brooklyn for a couple of days....

I went shopping and exploring.

I'll share that later. 

That was the last day we saw each other. 

On the first day here

we visited old houses that we had lived in.

This was the home that I grew up in from 2nd grade until 8th. It was a house built in the early 1900’s. It seemed so big when I was a child but the porch makes it look much larger. The house had the usual creaky noises that old homes have, but I learned to get used to it.

I think I even liked it.

The rooms downstairs ran into each other so my niece enjoyed running from one to the other in a circle.

You know how it is when kids learn to run.

Round and round and round she went,

many times head first into something in her path.

Would make my sister crazy.

This was our next home.  I remember I thought we had arrived when we moved here.

We had moved to a new development in town and all the cool kids lived here.

Now I look at this house and think

WHAT, you’re kidding right?

(I like the old house better now)

It is bigger then it looks since it has a basement walkout but it looks a little abandoned now.

It used to have pretty flowers in the front and a split rail fence.

Oh and it came with a new harvest gold Formica counter top. Well actually more pumpkin color.

Yeah!

This was the 70’s kids.

The house across the street had a pool.

( and my boyfriend of 3 yrs) yeah convenient.

....to his mothers chagrin. 

She didn't like her son with the little french girl:) 

Sorry I digress.....

My niece was part FISH and spent as much time at the pool as we would let her.

I remember her endlessly asking me to watch her as she dove from the diving board.

Tata regarde moi!!!!

I would of course….she was so cute and fearless.

(I never dove off the board....too chicken)

While in the area we decided to check out the high school that I attended.

Ok , again maybe more of a memory for me but watching a couple of minutes of American football would be one thing

on the list of things to check off. 

I thought of explaining it to her but I only know the basics.

4 plays to get 10 yards ……right?

Animals don’t need translation,

they always understand a kind touch.

Being by the water is something she loves and something that gives her much inner peace so

I tried to oblige her as much as I could.

Plus I like it too.

One day we got a light take out lunch and sat by the docks.

It was a windy day but we didn’t mind. The sun was shining and time seemed to stand still.

Spending time with Vanessa was eye opening for me.

I realized that we had spent too many years apart and that I want/need to make up for all that lost time.

I know like with any relationship it needs to be nurtured

and I hope we will have many years ahead in each others lives...


.....and making more memories.

I'll share more of our visit soon,

Carole